The Best Playground in Boston (Plus Six Runners-Up!)

The Best Playground in Boston: Martin’s Park

Location: 64 Sleeper Street (South Boston)
Best for ages 8 and under

In the heart of South Boston, in the thriving Seaport district, is Martin’s Park, which is part playground, part botanical garden. 

Once you enter, you’ll find yourself in a maze of plant- and tree-enclosed pathways that lead to various play structures, including slides, swings, climbing gyms, musical instruments, a splash pad, and best of all — a giant wooden ship complete with a working flagpole, steering wheel, and other entertaining features.

Martin’s Park was constructed in memory of Martin Richard, the only child who was killed in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. The park is a beautiful tribute to the boy’s energetic spirit and seeks to provide a safe and inclusive play space for children of all abilities. 

The park’s location near the Boston Children’s Museum and the Boston Harbor makes it a perfect place to spend a fun day out with your kids.

🚻 There are no restrooms inside the park but there is one in the nearby Trinity Church that is usually open, and there are also several stores with restrooms that are open to the public, including Ben & Jerry’s (which could also be a reason to make an ice cream stop as part of your outing :)).

Six Other Awesome Playgrounds in Boston

If you’re looking for more than one playground in Boston, here are six other options I would recommend!

Esplanade Playground

Location: Charles River Esplanade (Back Bay)
Best for ages 5 and up

The Charles River Esplanade is home to three fantastic playgrounds, but the most popular is the Esplanade Playground, not far from the Hatch Shell performance stage. Older kids will enjoy climbing the boulders, zip lining, and trying out the other climbing structures. 

Another perk of this playground is its close proximity to the Esplanade, so you can easily take the kids over to the paved pathway for a scenic walk or bike ride. 

There are also lots of green spaces near the park where you can enjoy a picnic. This playground is in the heart of the city and a great place to let the kids unwind during a day of exploring.

🚻 There are no restrooms at this playground. The closest public restrooms can be found in the Boston Common, about a 10-minute walk away. 

Note: If you’re looking for a playground for younger kids along the Esplanade, try the Stoneman Playground between Fairfield and Massachusetts Avenue or the Charlesbank Playground on Charles Street at Longfellow (near the Museum of Science). Both of these playgrounds have play areas specifically geared toward toddlers.

The Tadpole Playground and Frog Pond

Location: 131 Tremont St. (Beacon Hill)
The Tadpole Playground is geared towards ages 5 and under, but the Frog Pond and the rest of the Boston Common are great for all ages!

It just so happens that Boston Common, the oldest public park in the United States, is also home to one of the best play areas for kids: the Tadpole Playground and Frog Pond. 

The Tadpole Playground is pretty small in size, making it especially nice for younger kids. Toddlers will enjoy the cute frog sculptures inside the playground.

The biggest selling point of this play area is the Frog Pond, a large, shallow wading pool with a water fountain in the middle. Families flock to the Frog Pond during the summer months to let their kids splash in the water for hours. There’s also a carousel near the pond that’s in operation in the summer. 

In the winter, the Frog Pond becomes an ice skating rink, which can be equally entertaining for kids when it’s cold outside.

The Boston Common and the adjacent Public Garden are giant playgrounds in and of themselves. Kids can easily run from the Tadpole Playground and Frog Pond to the other expansive green spaces of the Common. 

Just a short walk from the Common, they’ll come to the Public Garden with its swan boats, balloon animals (don’t miss the guy who makes them near the bridge!), live music, and beautiful gardens.

🚻 There are public restrooms near the Frog Pond, a very convenient option for families spending time in the area.

Castle Island Playground

Location: 2010 William J Day Blvd (South Boston)
Best for ages 8 and under

Another large, well-maintained playground can be found on Castle Island, right next to Fort Independence, featuring beautiful Boston Harbor views from all sides. 

I love it when a playground is situated near an interesting attraction because you can let kids get their energy out for a while, and then you can take them to explore the area some more. 

After climbing around the playground, kids might enjoy running the trails around the fort and along the harbor. 

There’s an especially unique walkway that stretches into the water, with airplanes flying directly overhead right before landing at Boston Logan International Airport — an unforgettable experience for children!

🚻 Public restrooms are a short walk from the playground.

John Eliot Playground

Location: 9 North Margin St (North End)
Best for ages 8 and under

Tucked away in a hidden corner of Paul Revere Mall in Boston’s North End, John Eliot Playground offers a cozy play space that only locals seem to know about. The playground is small and unassuming, which is part of what I love about it. 

We once walked along the Mall with our daughter and happened to stumble across this playground, where she enjoyed playing for a while before we moved on to explore Old North Church and some of the other historic sites in the neighborhood.

If you’re hoping to tour North End but want to give your kids a moment to play, this little gem is worth a visit. The best part about this playground is when your kids yell, “I’m hungry!” you have Boston’s best Italian eateries only steps away.

🚻 There is a public restroom at the fire station right next to Paul Revere Mall. (Turn left as you exit the Mall near the Paul Revere statue.)

Constitution Beach Children’s Playground

Location: 799 William F McClellan Hwy (East Boston)
The playground is catered towards ages 8 and under, but the beach offers fun for all ages.

If you want to combine playground time with a beach experience, check out Constitution Beach in East Boston. The beach is only a couple minutes’ walk from the Orient Heights T station. 

There is a large, enclosed playground at the beach with a bathhouse nearby. The grounds of the playground are made of sand, so feel free to bring a bucket and shovel for kids to play with.

Constitution Beach is just steps away from the playground if your kids want some water time.

While not an open-ocean beach, the calm waters of the bay are perfect for young children to swim in, and they can enjoy searching for shells, snails, and crabs in the sand. 

One of the most unique features of this beach and playground is that they are right across from Boston Logan International Airport, so kids will have a perfect view of planes taking off and landing on the runways.

🚻 There are public restrooms inside the bathhouse at Constitution Beach.

Piers Park Playground and Splashpad

Location: 95 Marginal St (East Boston)
The playground and splash pad are best suited for ages 8 and under, but the park as a whole is great for all ages.

We stumbled across Piers Park one day while exploring our own neighborhood, East Boston, and it quickly became one of our favorite playgrounds in the city.

The entire park is gated, which can put anxious parents’ minds at ease, and the actual playground area is fenced off even further. The playground consists of two different play structures on either side, with a giant splash pad in the middle — perfect for a hot summer day! 

There are a few picnic tables and grassy areas inside the fenced playground where you can take a lunch break. Outside of the playground, Piers Park has other paved pathways for kids to explore.

The playground at Piers Park is awesome, but what truly sets this park apart is the stunning views of the Boston skyline across the harbor. Kids can run along the enclosed pier that stretches into the water and watch as boats come in and out. 

🚻 There are family-size, single-stall public restrooms inside the park, near the playground, that are well-maintained and spacious.